As the Easter season comes upon us, we will hear again the story of
Jesus Christ and the sacrifice he made for us. He allowed mankind to hand him
over to death and place him on the cross. We will rejoice in the fact that he rose
again proving he could not be overcome by death and that, through this
sacrifice, he offers us salvation from our sins. This is a wonderful fact and I
am excited to share in the celebration of Easter every year. As I dive into the
story once more, I realize there is so much to take from it. Jesus is the main
plot, but there are other sub-plots to the story that we can draw understanding
from. We can learn something from the fickle nature of the Israelites, who called
out to Jesus with praise while he rode into Jerusalem on the donkey (Matthew 21:9) and then less
than a week later called out to have him crucified (Matthew 27:22). We can learn from the fear
that led to the three denials by Peter about his association with Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75).
Perhaps the largest warning given through the story is that which can be
learned by taking a look at Judas Iscariot.
Reading through all four Gospels,
you would be hard pressed to find even a verse that sheds this man named Judas in
a positive light. He is known simply as the betrayer. He is known for the kiss (Luke 22:48).
Did Judas always intend to
betray Jesus? It would seem the answer to this is no. In Matthew 24:14-16, we
read that Judas found an opportunity to make some money by betraying his friend.
It says “From that time on, Judas began
looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:16). It wasn’t until
after being offered something that Judas looked to betray Jesus Christ. Judas
had a price. Much like Esau in Genesis
25:29-34, Judas valued what he could get more than what he already had.
Esau valued a bowl of lentil stew over his own birthright and the Bible says
that, from then on, he despised his birthright. Judas valued 30 silver coins
over his friendship and relationship with Jesus and, therefore, ultimately
despised Jesus. Jesus himself warned about what Judas was going through when he
said, ”No one can serve two masters. For
you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise
the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24). The lesson
we can learn from this is simple. Who or what do you serve? Is it God? Is it something
else? Is anything worth enough to you to betray God for? If your answer is yes,
I’d suggest you run as far away from that thing as fast as you can. You will
regret it later. How do I know? Judas did. We will see more on that later.
Did Judas really understand what
he was doing? He may have intentionally betrayed a friend but he very likely
didn’t understand the consequences to his actions. Proverbs 16:25 says “There is
a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death”. Judas likely thought he was doing the right
thing by getting Jesus into the custody of the religious leaders. Judas did not
truly understand or believe in who Jesus was. Jesus was aware of this fact. He
told it directly to his disciples when he said, “’But some of you do not believe me.’ (For Jesus knew from the
beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.)” (John
6:64). What do you believe? Are you on a path that seems right but ends in
death? If the path does not lead to Jesus please take concern in this. Jesus himself
said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever
comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be
thirsty. But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me (John
6:35, 36). Jesus also said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you
won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to
life.” (John 8:12). Jesus wants you
to believe in him and also follow him. Judas physically followed Jesus but he could
not spiritually follow Jesus because he did not truly believe that Jesus was
who he said he was.
Did Judas regret his decision? You bet he did. The
Gospel of Matthew is the only one that records what happened to Judas after he
betrayed Jesus:
When
Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he
was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the
leading priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have
betrayed an innocent man.” “What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your
problem.” Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and
hanged himself. (Matthew 27:3-5)
Those
30 silver coins that were so valuable to Judas such a short time ago suddenly
had no meaning at all. He realized that without Jesus, there was nothing of
value. He realized he had traded his own salvation for a little money. I pray
that all of us get to this point before it is too late like it was for
Judas. The point when we realize that Jesus is all we truly need. Are you to
that point? If not, what is in your way? Do you not believe? Do you serve
something else over God?
"But what if I should be guilty of the same
accursed sin as Judas, that son of perdition? I have been baptized into the
name of the Lord Jesus; I am a member of his visible Church; I sit at the
communion table: all these are so many kisses of my lips. Am I sincere in them?
If not, I am a base traitor. Do I live in the world as carelessly as others do,
and yet make a profession of being a follower of Jesus? Then I must expose
religion to ridicule, and lead men to speak evil of the holy name by which I am
called. Surely if I act thus inconsistently I am a Judas, and it were better
for me that I had never been born. Dare I hope that I am clear in this matter?
Then, O Lord, keep me so. O Lord, make me sincere and true. Preserve me from
every false way. Never let me betray my Saviour. I do love thee, Jesus, and
though I often grieve thee, yet I would desire to abide faithful even unto
death. O God, forbid that I should be a high-soaring professor, and then fall
at last into the lake of fire, because I betrayed my Master with a kiss."
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